Mayor Don Wesely today proclaimed the week of April 2 through 8 as Public Health Week in
the city and announced a project to get mercury out of homes. During the entire month of
April, residents can bring their mercury thermometers to the Lincoln-Lancaster County
Health Department, 3140 'N' Street, or any local pharmacy.

"Children are especially vulnerable to exposure, and we want to thank the local pharmacies
for partnering with us in getting this highly toxic metal out of our homes," said Mayor
Wesely. "Preventing mercury exposure goes hand-in-hand with my Healthy Kids 2010
Initiative to keep our children safe."

Unbroken mercury thermometers should be contained in a re-closable plastic bag, such as a
zip-lock bag. At each collection, site the first 40 families to bring in their mercury
thermometers will receive a free digital thermometer in exchange. In addition to
pharmacies in Lincoln, Fourstar in Waverly is also participating in the collection.

Funding for this exchange program is provided by the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health
Department, Children’s Environmental Health Protection Initiative grant through the
Nebraska Health Care Cash Fund.

A new billboard just north of the Health Department on 'O' Street reminds families to look
for poisons like mercury and lead in their homes.